The Red Sea Riviera is divided into two areas. The first
is a stretch of land overlooking the Gulf of Suez and
the Red Sea from Ain Sukhna in the north to Marsa Alam
in the south. The second region is made up of Southern
Sinai, from Taba in the north to Ras Mohamed in the south.

THE
COAST OF SOUTHERN SINAI
This attractive peninsula has a magic quality and is noted
as a land of history and sanctity. It is located east
of the Suez Canal and borders the Red Sea, between the
gulfs of Aqaba and Suez.

It also offers a unique opportunity to experience the
colourful and hospitable Bedouin culture and visit a number
of spectacular National Parks. For the adventurous, there
are diverse activities from desert safaris to mountaineering
and the chance to go off-the-beaten-track to visit a number
of key historical sites.

THE
RED SEA COAST
The Red Sea is one of the northernmost coral seas, offering
an ideal recreational area to Europeans in particular
because of the short flying distance.

The
monastery houses a fine collection of manuscripts, altars
and wall paintings, and is located 90 km south of Ain
Sukhna, in the cliffs of Gebel Al Galala Al Qibliya. The
monastery has two guesthouses and visitors can spend the
night there prearrangements are recommended).

MONASTERY
OF ST ANTHONY
Eighty-five kilometers away, at the foot of Gebel Al Galala
Al Qibliya, stands the Monastery of St Anthony. The Saint
is said to have lived to 105 and inhabited a nearby cave.

MONS
PORPHYRITIS
This was once an important mine during Roman times because
of its porphyry, a beautiful purple and crystal gemstone
not found anywhere else. It was used mainly in decorative
work and became a symbol of royalty. There are remains
at the site of buildings that used to comprise a complex
of temples, shrines and fortresses.

MONS
CLAUDIANUS
Located deep in the Eastern Desert, between Safaga and
the Nile, this amazing Roman settlement was the largest
of its kind in Egypt.

WADI
HAMMAMAT
This quarry settlement – situated south east of
El Quseir in the Eastern Desert – was once renowned
for producing bekheny, a green, semi-precious rock used
for decoration. A variety of inscriptions can be found
there dating from Pharaonic times to the last century,
including unusual graffiti.

MYOS
HORMOS
This ancient port lies just a few km north of El Qseir,
and was once a thriving haven for trading ships departing
to India. Remains of the old port can still be seen today.

Overlooking the Gulf of Aqaba, the Egyptian Riviera in
Sinai offers a variety of tourist attractions from a dramatic
mountain backdrop to stretches of golden beaches on Lazarus
Waters. It is a paradise, not only for divers and sun
worshipers, but for anyone looking for beautiful weather
all year around, state-of-the-art tourist facilities,
white sandy beaches and the most amazing and unmatched
underwater scenery in the world, with 250 different corals
and 1,000 species of fish as well as some world-famous
wrecks.

In winter, as in summer, visitors can take part in diverse
watersports, as well as enjoying excursions to classical
monuments on the Nile or to the mysterious Eastern Desert.

ATTRACTIONS
ON THE RED SEA Monastery
of St.Paul
St Paul’s is considered (together with St Anthony’s)
one of the oldest Christian monasteries.The Saint, a hermit,
lived for 85 years in a nearby cave, where a church now
stands to commemorate his life.

Today, the monastery – which dates back to the 4th
century AD – is said to be the largest Coptic monastery
in Egypt. The monastery is home to some 70 monks and it
is open to visitors. It has several churches, chapels,
a vegetable garden, a spring, and a small museum that
houses its fine collection of manuscripts and crosses.
It also has splendid wall paintings in the Church of St
Anthony’s, which contains the saint’s tomb.
Travellers can stay for the night at the monastery’s
guesthouse (prearrangements are recommended).

Part quarry, part prison, Roman prisoners were brought
there to extract its top-quality grey granite used for
buildings such as the Pantheon and Hadrian’s Villa.
Among its attractive ruins area fortress, a small temple,
cells, baths and a gigantic cracked pillar. Excursions
can be organised from Hurghada, Safaga and El Quseir.

BIR
UMM FAWAKHIR
Once a Byzantine gold quarry Bir Umm Fawakhir was the
home of Coptic Christians and the township consisted of
about 200 buildings. Excursions can be arranged from Safaga
and EL Quseir.